Best Ohio Online Casinos 2025
While online gambling is a multi-million-dollar industry in Ohio, online casinos are still illegal in the state. You can place online sports bets, wager on horse races, and enjoy Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), but you can’t enjoy real money casino play online.
However, you can still play online casino games using sweepstakes casinos, which let you enjoy using online currencies to play these games for fun. If you want to enjoy Ohio online casinos through sweepstakes gameplay, read our guide to find the best sites.
Our Top Five Recommended Ohio Casinos
Rather than giving you an endless list of Ohio online casinos to consider, we’ve focused on the top five. Our experts have listed the top five sweepstakes casinos in Ohio below.
Play 17,000+ Free Casino Games
Top Legal Games to Play at Ohio Casinos
By stepping into any gambling establishment in Ohio, you’ll see a mix of table games, poker rooms, slots, and the occasional in-person sportsbook. These games are entirely legal (and popular) at licensed casinos and sportsbooks across the state. Some locations even offer thousands of games split between these verticals.
Therefore, Ohio has an extensive selection of gaming options for players. At the same time, many of these gaming categories are free at Ohio sweepstakes casinos.
Best Casino Games to Win Real Money in Ohio
Winning money at Ohio online casinos is never guaranteed. Every game is determined by Random Number Generators (RNGs), so you need to be lucky to win. However, you can choose games with higher odds of paying you back more to stretch your bankroll. Here are some casino games that offer high RTPs.
Slots
Blackjack
Roulette
Live Dealer
Crash Games
Card Games
Baccarat
Arcade
Bingo
Casual Games
Craps
Dice Games
Fish Shooting
Game Shows
Instant Games
Keno
Other
Scratch Cards
Slingo
Table Games
Video Poker
Virtual Sports
Spinmatic
Amatic Industries
Barcrest Games
Spinmatic
SmartSoft Gaming
Casino Web Scripts
How to Win Real Money on Casino Games in Ohio
RTP estimates how much you could potentially win back from the casino over time based on simulated spins. So, if you bet $100 on a slot with an RTP of 99%, you could get $99 on average. However, every spin on fair online slots is random, so there are no guarantees. You’ll hope to walk away with more than this, but you could also receive less.
Ohio Online Gambling Overview
The latest information about gambling online in Ohio:
Ohio Gambling Law
Real money Ohio online casinos are illegal. Based on recent reports from Ohio government officials, including Senator Nathan Manning and Representative Jay Edwards, this is unlikely to change until 2027/2028. This all depends on the approval of Senate Bill 312, which hasn’t yet been submitted to the respective authorities.
As for other gambling activities, Ohio has multiple retail casinos and sportsbook locations. Furthermore, online sports betting, lotteries, and DFS contests are fully legal for those aged 21 and over.
How to Play With Ohio Casinos
Once you’ve picked one of our suggested Ohio sweepstakes casinos, it’s time to sign up. You can complete registration through desktop, mobile, or native apps where supported. To get this done, you can simply run through the following steps:
- Open the homepage of the chosen casino and hit “Register” or “Sign Up”.
- Run through the registration form and establish a username and password.
- Choose your welcome bonus (if required) and agree to the terms and conditions.
- Finish the form and verify account details via SMS or email.
- Sign in, redeem the sign-up offer, and play the eligible games.
Accepted Ohio Online Casino Banking Methods
After joining one of our recommended online casinos in Ohio, you may buy one of the site’s available promotions. This isn’t mandatory, but it’s a good way to stack those GC and boost your chances of accumulating SC. Should you choose to make a purchase, you’ll typically have the option to use methods such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, bank transfers, and sometimes crypto.
Here are some of the standard payment methods available at sweepstakes casinos:
| Payment Method | Deposits/Purchases? | Withdrawals/Redemptions? |
|---|---|---|
Visa
| Yes | Yes |
MasterCard
| Yes | Yes |
Discover
| Yes | Yes |
American Express
| Yes | No |
Venmo
| Yes | No |
PayPal
| Yes | Yes |
Online Bank Transfer
| Yes | Yes |
Prepaid Card
| Yes | No |
Neteller
| Yes | Yes |
ACH eCheck
| No | Yes |
Cash at the Cage
| Yes | Yes |
Who Can Play at Ohio Online Casinos?
You must meet two criteria to sign up and play at any sweepstakes casinos in Ohio. Firstly, you must be over the age of 18. Secondly, you must be a permanent resident of Ohio. After signing up, you’ll need to upload documents verifying these details. Therefore, we advise that you gather the necessary documents, including bank statements and/or utility bills, and a state-issued ID to complete verification checks seamlessly.
What Legal Requirements Must Players Meet for Ohio Casinos?
The legal requirements for Ohio online casinos and the legal requirements for retail casinos are two different things. For online platforms, you must be a resident of Ohio and be at least 18 years of age. However, to walk into any retail casino and wager with real funds, you must be over 21.
That said, if real-money online casinos in Ohio become available, the same 21+ rule and the state resident rule would apply.
Who Regulates Online Casinos in Ohio?
A regulator must be established in any state where online gambling is legal. Ohio’s regulator is the Ohio Casino Control Commission, established in 2011. Despite its name, this regulator oversees online sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests. This regulatory body monitors activities for each category, performs checks, and issues respective licenses where necessary.
Ohio Casino Apps for Players
Not all sweepstakes casinos in Ohio come with native apps for Android and iOS. However, even platforms with no mobile app have mobile-optimized sites. Still, if you’re looking for a mobile app to give you a tailored sweepstakes casino experience, there are plenty of quality options.
Ohio Casino Apps for Android
Ohio Casino Apps for iOS
History of Online Gambling Laws In Ohio
Back in 1933, Ohio started to legalize gambling, with pari-mutuel horse racing betting launching. It was a slow process, with the next legalization occurring for decades, but eventually, Ohio lawmakers legalized most types of gambling. Here’s an overview of that process:
Timeline for Online Casino Gambling in Ohio
1933
Ohio lawmakers legalized pari-mutuel horse racing betting and established the Ohio Racing Commission to oversee this gambling.
1974
The Ohio Lottery holds its first legal draw with Buckeye 300. The Ohio Lottery Commission was created to oversee the new service.
2009
Article XV, Section 6(c) passes, legalizing casino gambling at four Ohio locations.
2011
Lawmakers create the Ohio Casino Control Commission to oversee land-based casinos.
2012
The first land-based casino opened (JACK Casino Cleveland).
2018
Lawmakers legalize Daily Fantasy Sports competitions.
2021
House Bill 29 passes to legalize sports betting in Ohio.
January 1, 2023
Sports betting launches in Ohio.
Legal vs Offshore Casinos in Ohio: What’s the Difference?
Legal and offshore casinos in Ohio are very different operations. Of course, legal casinos remain the only safe option, but it’s essential to understand why.
Sweepstakes casinos follow US gaming regulations and provide free casino gaming for Ohio players. Meanwhile, offshore casinos are licensed by international regulators, and while these sites can’t legally operate in Ohio, these platforms will accept players from the state.
While you are unlikely to be prosecuted for playing at one of these sites, you have no protections. If a site steals your money, mistreats you, takes your personal information, or fails to process payments, you have no protection because you are outside US regulations.
To keep your finances and personal information safe, we recommend playing with legal Ohio online casinos and enjoying sweepstakes gaming.
Land-based Casinos in Ohio
Since Ohio legalized casino gambling in 2009, the state has flourished in this area, with retail casinos popping up. JACK Cleveland Casino was the first to launch in May 2012, with three more establishments launching since. The Ohio Casino Control Commission governs each location, and you must be 21+ to gamble at their respective venues.
Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
The Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati is a favorite among high-rollers. It has a designated high-limit area where you can place bets as high as $50,000, and it’s also the newest of the four in-state casinos (launched in 2013). Additionally, the site has 2,000+ slot machines spread across 100,000 square-feet of gambling space.
Hollywood Casino Toledo
This location, launched in 2012, is a hot spot for both in-state and out-of-state visitors. Hollywood Casino Toledo offers around-the-clock entertainment and has five restaurants, meaning it resembles more of a ‘Casino Resort’ than just a basic spot to gamble. On that note, the Hollywood Casino Toledo has a live poker room with 20 tables alongside well over 2,000 slot games.
Hollywood Casino Columbus
Hollywood Casino Columbus opened its doors in October 2012. The casino boasts a colossal 160,000 square feet of gambling space and over 1,700 slot machines and is a fan favorite for obvious reasons. It even has close to 80 high-limit slot machines where you can strive for big payouts, and it’s the only location in Columbus that offers table gaming.
FAQs
Are online casinos legal in Ohio?
Ohio online casinos offering real money play are currently illegal. However, sweepstakes casinos are a viable alternative, offering free casino gaming.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Ohio?
Yes. You can access sweepstakes casinos in Ohio and enjoy playing casino games with virtual currency, such as slots, table games, and live dealer titles.
What are the best online casinos in Ohio?
We’ve listed some of the best sweepstakes casinos in Ohio on this page. You can register with brands like High 5 Casino, WOW Vegas, and Stake.us by following the links on this page.
Are Ohio online casinos safe?
Ohio online casinos that offer sweepstakes gaming provide a safe way to play, using SSL encryption and other security measures to secure accounts.
Can I claim bonuses at Ohio casinos?
Yes. You can frequently claim bonuses in GC and SC at Ohio online casinos. Most sites offer generous welcome offers, including GC and SC as rewards.
